Report: Man United ready to reignite their interest in 22-year-old midfielder

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3 July 2026

Manchester United have missed on Mateus Fernandes and, bluntly, that matters. A club talking about a midfield rebuild under Michael Carrick cannot keep treating every setback as a minor detour. According to

Give Me Sport

, Fernandes is heading elsewhere, with the report stating that he will be “remaining in London for the new season after agreeing a transfer to Tottenham”.

That leaves United back where they have often been in recent years, revisiting old lists, revisiting old targets and revisiting old questions about value. The obvious one is

Carlos Baleba

. The report says “Manchester United have

on their list when it comes to signing a new midfielder” and that is no surprise. He was admired before, he is admired now, and Brighton know exactly how to monetise admiration.

United “did approach the Seagulls for the 22-year-old last summer, only to be put off by their £100m price tag”. That number tells you everything. Brighton saw demand, saw upside and priced accordingly. It also underlines the problem for United. If the player is still viewed internally as the “new Casemiro”, then hesitation comes with a cost. Once a club decide a midfielder can anchor the side for years, the fee rarely gets smaller.

There is another important detail in the report, “offers under £70m are unlikely to be considered”, with the further claim that Baleba “only wants United”. Useful, if true. Helpful, certainly. Decisive, not remotely. Brighton have no reason to rush and no reason to discount heavily, especially after Baleba “still went on to feature regularly for Fabio Hurzeler’s team last term”.

If Baleba looks expensive, Alex Scott does too. United are “set to explore a move for Bournemouth star Alex Scott after seeing Fernandes opt for a £85m switch to Tottenham”. Again, the market is clear. Bournemouth value him at around £80m, and they are not alone in admiring him. The report names Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham and Chelsea as clubs to watch.

Photo IMAGO

Scott has momentum after a “standout season” and his first England call-up under Thomas Tuchel. He is a different profile from Baleba, more progressive and more fluid, but the issue remains the same. United need quality, depth and reliability if they are serious about competing in the Premier League and Champions League.

Ederson is expected in from Atalanta once his World Cup duties with Brazil end, while Aurelien Tchouameni and Sander Berge are also mentioned. That is a broad spread of names, styles and prices. It suggests United are keeping options open, which is sensible, but also that they still need clarity on exactly what this midfield is meant to become.

Missing Fernandes is not fatal. Missing Fernandes and then overpaying in a panic would be worse.

From a

Manchester United

supporter perspective, this all feels painfully familiar. One target goes elsewhere, then suddenly the same names from old shortlists are pushed back into circulation as if that proves there is a masterplan. It does not. It proves the club are still reactive.

Baleba is a very good player, but if Brighton want £100m, or even something close to it, United have to be absolutely certain. Not hopeful, certain. We have seen too many big fees tied to players who then arrive carrying impossible expectations. Calling someone the “new Casemiro” is exactly the sort of label that creates noise before a ball is kicked.

Scott is talented too, but £80m for a player who is still developing feels like another premium driven by hype, age and English market inflation. If United are building properly under Carrick, recruitment has to be cooler and smarter than this. Sign the right midfielder, not the most obvious one on social media.

Ederson coming in helps, but one arrival does not fix a midfield that still lacks certainty in control, ball-winning and durability across a full season. Tchouameni sounds ambitious, Berge sounds practical, Baleba sounds exciting, Scott sounds fashionable. Fine. Pick the one who best fits the system and get the deal done early. Supporters are tired of transfer windows built on being linked with everyone and settling for whoever is left.

Man Utd can complete huge midfield signing with deal loosely agreed – top source

Football365

Manchester United Identify This Brighton Midfielder As A Target: Should Carrick Move In For Him?

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Carlos Baleba: Why United are not pushing harder revealed

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